Check out the latest updates in Eanes, Lake Travis and Leander ISDs.
Eanes ISD could begin advisory process for potential 2027 bond
Eanes ISD officials are continuing to work toward a potential 2027 bond, which could see projects for every campus in a multimillion-dollar package.
EISD's Long-Range Facility Planning Committee presented a list of recommended bond projects to the board last May. During a March 24 board meeting, Chief Financial Officer Chris Scott projected that this list would equate to about a $900 million bond.
The last day for the board to call for a bond election is Feb. 12, 2027, to hold an election May 1, 2027. To stay within this timeline, district officials said a potential Bond Advisory Committee timeline could look like:
- Aug. 25: board meeting presentation on the BAC process
- Sept. 2, Sept. 23, Oct. 5, Oct. 14, Nov. 4, Nov. 6: BAC meetings
- Dec. 8: final recommendations presented at the board meeting
Read the full story.Lake Travis ISD poised for $1.2M shortfall, lower tax rate in FY 2026-27
The Lake Travis ISD board of trustees discussed the $152.7 million proposed general operating fund budget at a May 20 meeting.
The proposed budget is $1.8 million higher than the fiscal year 2025-26 budget. Additionally, the budget includes a $1.2 million deficit, a decrease from the current $4.5 million deficit. This difference can be partially attributed to a 2% increase in home values in the area, resulting in higher tax revenues. There was a slight decrease in instruction costs and instructional administration, as well as increases to school administration and transportation costs from last year’s budget.
The general fund was budgeted with the assumption 10,667 students will be enrolled with a 94.4% average daily attendance rate. This is a 104-student decline and a 0.5% increase in attendance rate, based on attendance trends. Public schools receive a basic allotment of $6,215 per student in attendance, a $55 increase from the previous rate set in 2019.
The district will hold a public hearing to discuss the proposed budget and tax rate June 17. The adoption of the budgets will be considered at that meeting, and the tax rates will be adopted in August.
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Leander ISD approves 2026-27 compensation plan with 0% general pay increase
Following a review from the Texas Association of School Boards, the Leander ISD board of trustees approved the 2026-27 compensation plan May 7.
While TASB found that LISD remains competitive with surrounding districts, district officials recommended the 0% general pay increase due to continued budget challenges.
However, the approved plan also includes a one-time lump sum retention payment of up to $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time employees.
The board also authorized the superintendent to amend this plan later in the year if needed due to future legislative action.
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Eanes ISD could see $1.6 million budget surplus next year following cuts
After months of projecting a multimillion dollar budget shortfall in fiscal year 2026-27, Eanes ISD could actually see a $1.6 million budget surplus following the implementation of a plan that will yield central administration staff cuts.
Following initial projections of a $5 million-$6 million shortfall last fall, the board approved a series of revenue generation and cost-saving measures in February to garner about $3.9 million worth of savings. These include increasing local revenues through creating a virtual academy, increasing transfer students, and reducing 69 full-time equivalent, or FTE, staff positions through attrition.
In an email to the community in April, Superintendent Kirk Koennecke said that a new $2.8 million "Right Size Plan" and other new revenue generation strategies will impact the budget forecast over the next three years.
District officials said the Right Size Plan will include central administration and administrative support services cuts, but were unable to share specifics. Koennecke said in the email that conversations with affected staff members had begun.
Under the new plan, Scott said EISD would see a projected budget surplus of $1.6 million with a 27.6% fund balance, above its 25% target.
The board will hold a budget and tax rate hearing in June before adopting the budget by June 30. The board will adopt the tax rate in August once the certified property values are received.
The board was initially slated to approve its compensation plan in May but following discussions April 28 could hold off on implementing staff raises until the fall to keep a cushion in the fund balance.
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Lake Travis ISD officials approve higher employee pay for 2026-27
The LTISD board of trustees approved the 2026-27 employee compensation plan at a May 20 meeting. Updates to the compensation plan include:
- A 1% midpoint pay increase
- Salary and stipend adjustments
- A $1,000 retention incentive for all staff
The 1% pay increases will have an impact of $702,300 on the operating budget.
Salary and stipend adjustments are being made for positions in special services programs, such as early childhood special education and life skills. Additionally, school psychologists are being reclassified into the same pay grade as speech language pathologists. These adjustments will increase the operating budget by $425,000.
The $1,000 will be paid in two installments of $500 in November 2026 and February 2027. This will amount to a one-time impact of $1.26 million on the fund balance.
Sanchez said the district is planning to fund the retention incentive with the sale of surplus land, which is expected to close in August.
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Leander ISD Citizens' Facility Advisory Committee works toward potential bond package
Chief Operations Officer Jeremy Trimble provided the board with an update on the district's Citizens' Facility Advisory Committee process May 21. The CFAC could form a potential bond package for a November 2026 bond election, which the board previously discussed in February.
According to Trimble, the CFAC is currently made up of 70 members across six subcommittees that have reviewed over 90 project categories with over 170 individual line items.
Superintendent Chris Clark said that in the past, LISD bonds have largely revolved around fast growth and new facilities. However, the district now needs to think about bonds differently, focusing on facility modernization, lifecycle replacements and addressing aging infrastructure. Officials said there are 10 campuses projected to reach their 25-year lifecycle milestone between 2026 and 2030.
The deadline for the board to call a November 2026 bond election is Aug. 17.
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